Buenos Dias,

Well the BIG adventure has definately begun, for me anyhow. Arrived in Quito yesterday after 24 hours of travelling. Taxi driver was unbelievably friendly and welcoming, so I've warmed to the Ecuadorians from the start.

Hostel is great, people are lovely, my Spanish needs lots of work, food so far is yummy (I think Chicken and rice is going to feature heavily on my menu over the coming months!) dinner today was 3 course affair for 1 pound!

My big news is that I have changed my plans for volunteering. Instead of going to Guandera Cloud Forest Reserve, I've decided to go to Bilsa instead. It's a tropical wet forest nearer the coast. It turns out that I was going to be the only person at Guandera, and as much as I want a challenge, you all know that I can't go for that long on my own! However, it would seem that Bilsa will be a bigger challenge in other ways as the reserve is literally days away from anywhere! I'm travelling out on Saturday (after a few days at a Sapnish School), 5 hr bus, then 2 hours in the back of a truck (with chickens and pigs - no joke!), overnight with a family who are expecting me (apparently!) then the next morning....wait for it......a 3-4 hour trek on the back of a donkey to the reserve itself! They get so much rain that the tracks are impassable at the moment without the aid of a 4 legged friend, actually three 4 legged friends; one for me, one for my guide and one for my bag!

As a result of this huge effort to get there I have been informed to let my friends and family (that's you lot!) know that I will be uncontactable for 4 weeks! They don't have electricity, warm water and definately no internet! So I look forward to hearing from you on my return!

Greg arrives on the 17th July, so I'm coming back to Quito to meet him then

(I can't wait! Although trying not to wish the weeks away!)

Love to you all,

Hasta luego mon amigos,

Ruth xxx